Macquarie Bank named Bank of the Year

Macquarie Bank has been named Bank of the Year in the Money Consumer Finance Awards.

After taking out seven categories in this year's awards, Macquarie Bank earned the top honour for its focus on simplifying banking, delivering competitive products and creating a seamless digital experience for customers. It was recognised for removing friction from the banking experience and raising the standard for what Australians should expect from their bank.

See the full list of winners in the Money Consumer Finance Awards 2026.

Macquarie Bank at a glance

• Winner: Bank of the Year
• Why they won: Removing friction from the banking experience and raising the standard for what Australians should expect from their bank
• Top product: Macquarie Transaction Account

A standout year

Well, that's got to be a record. Macquarie Bank has won seven out of 18 of Money's 2026 Consumer Finance Awards.

Ben Perham, head of personal Banking at Macquarie, explains this success, saying, "We've long been focused on building a banking experience that genuinely helps customers manage their money.

"For a number of years our strategy has prioritised removing complexity and making banking simpler for Australians. That's grounded in our customer obsession, which shapes our product design, how we improve our experiences over time and how we respond to what customers actually want and need."

Putting customers first

Perham adds, "We want our customers to feel in control and supported when they bank with us.

"We consistently get feedback that customers value our straightforward products, competitive rates and digital experiences that feel intuitive and easy to navigate.

"We're really focused on getting those fundamentals right, and customers are responding to that."

Leading banking innovation

Macquarie Bank has led several banking innovations.

Perham explains, "I am particularly proud of just how easy we have made it to become a Macquarie customer.

"Our customers can open an account online with Macquarie in minutes, and start spending and earning interest straightaway. No visiting a branch, no paper forms.

"That makes a huge difference, and it is helping more Australians access a better banking experience.

"Alongside this, we've built industry-leading security directly into the customer experience.

"Our Macquarie Authenticator app is a great example of this, giving customers real-time, tap-to-approve control over their account activity so they can authorise or decline transactions instantly from their phone, wherever they are," Perham adds.

"This really stands out for me, as it puts our customers in control and they can review and approve actions on their account with confidence."

A seamless digital experience

He continues, "We are also particularly proud of how we have brought our banking products together into a single, seamless digital experience.

"Customers can effortlessly move between transaction accounts, savings and home loans with clear visibility and control over their money.

"We have invested heavily in tools that do the work in the background, including spending insights that categorise transactions automatically, budgeting tools and the ability to track savings goals."

Top product: Macquarie Transaction Account

Macquarie Transaction Account - can be opened in as little as three minutes. This gateway account gives Macquarie customers access to a world of benefits.

Read more: View all winners in the Money Consumer Finance Awards 2026.

Get the magazine: Order the latest issue from the Money online shop.

Get stories like this in our newsletters.